Ólafur Arnalds
Eulogy for Evolution

THE REVIEW

One cannot deny that this is a surprising album.

First, because the Icelandic Ólafur Arnalds, already involved in other projects (with the metal band "Celestine" and the folk project "My Summer As A Salvation Soldier"), is only twenty years old. Second, because "Eulogy for Evolution" is a debut that arrives directly from the heavens, with a completely mature sound, composed of piano, violin, and cello intertwining, capable of making us fall heavily into the damp and fragrant Icelandic tundra.

Arnalds manages to immerse us in the untouched nature of his land, with the tranquillity of Matthew Cooper's sounds, the devastating melancholy of Matt Elliott, with the carefree youthfulness of any Micha P Hinson, telling us magnificent tales entirely instrumentally, which greatly recall Sigur Rós. Beautiful melodies of classical music on modern structures, accompanied by very subtle electronic noises, where the artist uses the piano as if it were a wedge, to penetrate and stun. Meanwhile, the strings are the true lockpick to open the heart to a world immersed in cold, transporting us with a physical emotion to admire a splendid natural landscape. Of the eight, there are only two tracks that, for brief moments, take on a rock sound: the beautiful "3055" with an epic drum roll and "3704/3837", where we witness a true explosion of drums and electric guitars, abruptly interrupted by an organ sound.

"Eulogy for Evolution" shows the great artistic sensitivity of a very young individual, captivating us with ease and elegance, with minimalist yet intense atmospheres, with great emotional impact. An album not for every moment, but for certain moments.

If you're looking for your melancholic autumn soundtrack, stop in Iceland and seek out Ólafur Arnalds.

Tracklist: "0040" - "0048/0729" - "0952" - "1440" - "1953" - "3055" - "3326" - "3704/3837"